“Thrilling . . . [told] with gonzo élan . . . When the sommelier and blogger Madeline Puckette writes that this book is the Kitchen Confidential of the wine world, she’s not wrong, though Bill Buford’s Heat is probably a shade closer.” —Jennifer Senior, The New York Times

“Remarkably entertaining.” —The San Francisco Chronicle

“As informative as it is, well, intoxicating.” —Fortune

“A funny, fascinating adventure.” —Real Simple

Professional journalist and amateur drinker Bianca Bosker didn’t know much about wine—until she discovered an alternate universe where taste reigns supreme, a world of elite sommeliers who dedicate their lives to the pursuit of flavor. Astounded by their fervor and seemingly superhuman sensory powers, she set out to uncover what drove their obsession, and whether she, too, could become a “cork dork.”

With boundless curiousity, humor, and a healthy dose of skepticism, Bosker takes the reader inside underground tasting groups, exclusive New York City restaurants, California mass-market wine factories, and even a neuroscientist’s fMRI machine as she attempts to answer the most nagging question of all: what’s the big deal about wine? What she learns will change the way you drink wine—and, perhaps, the way you live—forever.

Named one of The 4 Books You Should Read This Spring by FortuneNamed one of 12 Nonfiction Books You Need to Read in March by Harper’s BazaarNamed one of the 20 Best Nonfiction Books Coming in March 2017 by BustleNamed one of The Best Drink Books of Spring and Summer 2017 by PunchNamed one of the Best Books of Early 2017 by Brightly

The former executive tech editor of The Huffington Post, Bianca Bosker has written about food, wine, architecture, and technology for The New Yorker online, The Atlantic, T: The New York Times Style Magazine, Food & Wine, The Wall Street Journal, The Guardian, and The New Republic.

Critic reviews for Cork Dork
All: 3 | Positive: 3 | Negative: 0

Kirkus

on
Dec 26 2016

Readers will certainly come away from the book knowing more about wine and likely eager to explore it further, but even those less inclined to imbibe will be intrigued by Bosker’s insights into the nature of smell and taste and the ways training and attention can increase one’s pleasure in them.

Publishers Weekly

on
Aug 25 2017

At times the wine lingo is difficult to track, but readers who persevere will be rewarded with an appreciation of both wine and those pouring the bottles. Bosker’s mix of science, food writing, and memoir will be enjoyed by many.